Universal printer bezel for a gaming machine

ABSTRACT

A universal printer bezel for a gaming machine is disclosed. The gaming machine includes a housing and a selected ticket printer from a plurality of ticket printers. The selected printer is mounted within the housing. The plurality of printers have respective output slots for dispensing tickets along different exit paths. The printer bezel comprises an elongated hollow body extending between a front door of the housing and the output slot of the selected printer. The elongated body is mounted to the front door but unconnected to the selected printer. The elongated body is adapted to accept tickets dispensed from the output slots of the respective printers along the different exit paths regardless of which of the plurality of printers is the selected printer mounted within the housing.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The present invention relates generally to printers and, more particularly, to a universal printer bezel for a gaming machine and a method of replacing a ticket printer in the gaming machine.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Many gaming machines contain thermal printers that print and dispense tickets containing text, barcodes, graphics and/or lines. The information on such tickets may relate to diagnostics, metering, monetary accounts, monetary amounts, security/validation, etc. Recently, the ticket printers have been employed in cashless gaming systems. When a player completes a gaming session at a gaming machine outfitted with such a thermal printer and elects to collect any credits remaining on the machine, the thermal printer prints and dispenses a ticket with a monetary amount corresponding to the number of collected credits. The monetary amount may be represented by text and/or a barcode.

[0003] The thermal printers applicable to gaming machines are available in a variety of models and from a plurality of suppliers. Some popular thermal printers include the Ithaca® Series 700 and Series 850 thermal printers commercially available from TransAct Technologies Incorporated of Wallingford, Conn., and the PSA-66 thermal printer commercially available from Seiko Instruments USA, Inc., Microprinter Division, of Torrance, Calif. Such printers are typically mounted within the machine housing and dispense printed tickets through an attached bezel. The bezel is attached to the front of the printer and protrudes through an opening in the front of the machine housing. The opening may be defined by a front door of the machine housing.

[0004] A drawback of existing printer bezels is that they are designed to fit a particular thermal printer model and accept tickets dispensed from that printer model. The same bezel generally cannot be used with different printer models that dispense tickets along different exit paths. Therefore, if a machine manufacturer uses multiple printer models on its gaming machines, the manufacturer must also obtain or produce multiple bezels suited to the different printer models. Likewise, if one desires to replace one thermal printer in a gaming machine with a different printer model for upgrade or repair purposes, one must also replace the original bezel with a new bezel suited to the different printer model. The new bezel adds to material and labor costs. Accordingly, a need exists for a universal printer bezel that readily adapts to different thermal printer models and therefore does not require adjustment or replacement when one printer model is replaced with a different printer model.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] In accordance with the present invention, a universal printer bezel for a gaming machine is disclosed. The gaming machine includes a housing and a selected ticket printer from a plurality of ticket printers. The selected printer is mounted within the housing. The plurality of printers have respective output slots for dispensing tickets along different exit paths. The printer bezel comprises an elongated hollow body extending between a front door of the housing and the output slot of the selected printer. The elongated body is mounted to the front door but unconnected to the selected printer. The elongated body is adapted to accept tickets dispensed from the output slots of the respective printers along the different exit paths regardless of which of the plurality of printers is the selected printer mounted within the housing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006] The foregoing and other advantages of the invention will become apparent upon reading the following detailed description and upon reference to the drawings.

[0007]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a gaming machine containing a universal printer bezel embodying the present invention.

[0008]FIG. 2 is a section taken generally along line 2-2 in FIG. 1, showing a first ticket printer model dispensing a ticket through the bezel.

[0009]FIG. 3 is same as FIG. 2, except showing a second ticket printer model dispensing a ticket through the bezel.

[0010]FIG. 4 is an isometric view of a printer arrangement including the bezel and a front portion of a ticket printer for dispensing a ticket through the bezel.

[0011]FIG. 5 is a section taken generally along line 5-5 in FIG. 4.

[0012]FIG. 6 is an enlarged view of an exit end of the bezel in FIG. 5.

[0013] While the invention is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiments have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that the invention is not intended to be limited to the particular forms disclosed. Rather, the invention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENT

[0014] Referring now to the drawings, FIG. 1 depicts a gaming machine 10 containing a universal printer bezel 12 embodying the present invention. The gaming machine 10 includes a hinged front door 14 that may be unlocked with a suitable key and opened by service personnel.

[0015]FIGS. 2, 3, and 4 depict a printer arrangement including the universal printer bezel 12 embodying the present invention. The printer arrangement includes the bezel 12 and a ticket printer 16 a,b. The ticket printer 16 a in FIG. 2 represents a first ticket printer model for dispensing a ticket 32 along a first exit path, while the ticket printer 16 b in FIG. 3 represents a second ticket printer model for dispensing a ticket 32 along a second exit path different from the first exit path. The ticket printer 16 a,b is mounted within the machine housing at a stationary mounting location (base plate) 34 therein and includes an output slot 18 (see FIG. 4). The bezel 12 extends between the front door 14 of the machine housing and the output slot 18 of the printer 16 a,b and, more specifically, extends upwardly from the output slot 18 to the front door 14.

[0016] The bezel 12 includes a flat, elongated hollow body having an entry end 20 and an exit end 24. The entry end 20 includes an entry slot 22 and is adjacent, but not connected, to the printer 16 a,b. The entry slot 22 has a width W (see FIG. 4) that is sufficiently large to handle the width of the ticket 32 dispensed from the ticket printer 16 a,b. The width W of the entry slot 22 may be varied to improve guidance of narrow tickets. The entry slot 22 has a height H determined by the range of possible printer exit paths, measured from the common mounting location 34. The height H of the entry slot 22 must be at least equal to that range plus a small clearance value. In one embodiment, the height H is at least about 0.30 inches. The exit end 24 includes an exit slot 26 and a peripheral flange 28 encompassing the exit slot 26. The exit slot 26 is exposed by an opening in a detachable plate 30 of the front door 14. The peripheral flange 28 is attached to the detachable plate 30 around this opening by screws, bolts, or the like.

[0017] The bezel 12 forms a channel 36 extending between the entry slot 20 and the exit slot 26. The channel 36 includes a tapered section 36 a and a narrow section 36 b. In the tapered section 36 a, the channel 36 smoothly tapers from the height H at the entry slot 22 to a narrow height at the junction between the tapered section 36 a and the narrow section 36 b. The taper is illustrated as being generally linear, but may alternatively be curved. For example, the opposing walls of the tapered section 36 a may be concave or convex relative to each other. As shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the tapered section 36 a guides tickets 32 that enter the entry slot 22 at different locations to a common location. The narrow section 36 b has a uniform height and includes a curved portion that prevents cards or other relatively stiff objects from being fully inserted into the exit slot 26, which is designed to dispense tickets and not accept cards or objects. Also, the curved portion of the narrow section 36 b gently holds a ticket 32 within the bezel 12 to prevent excessive tension from being applied to the ticket 32 as a player removes it from the bezel 12 and thereby tears it off from the printer's ticket roll. FIGS. 5 and 6 illustrate a cross section of the channel 36.

[0018] In the illustrated embodiment, the bezel 12 extends upwardly from the output slot 18 of the printer 16 a,b to the front door 14. Said another way, the bezel 12 extends downwardly from the front door 14 to the output slot 18. With this orientation of the bezel 12, the printer 16 a,b must be mounted such that its output slot 18 is generally below a height of the bezel 12. Alternatively, the bezel 12 may be inverted so that it extends upwardly from the front door 14 to the output slot 18 of the printer 16 a,b. In this case, the printer 16 a,b must be mounted such that its output slot 18 is generally above a height of the bezel 12.

[0019] The ticket printer 16 a,b mounted inside the machine housing is selected from a plurality of different ticket printers. For example, the printer 16 a,b may be implemented with an Ithaca® Series 700 or Series 850 thermal printer commercially available from TransAct Technologies Incorporated of Wallingford, Conn. Alternatively, the printer 16 a,b may be implemented with a PSA-66 thermal printer commercially available from Seiko Instruments USA, Inc., Microprinter Division, of Torrance, Calif. These printers have respective output slots and are adapted to be mounted within the machine housing at the mounting location 34. The printers dispense tickets 32 from their respective output slots 18 along different exit paths relative to the machine housing when mounted within the housing at the mounting location 34.

[0020] Regardless of which of the above-noted ticket printers is selected to be the printer 16 a,b mounted within the machine housing, the bezel 12 will accept tickets 32 dispensed from the output slots 18 of the respective printers 16 a,b along the different exit paths. As best shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the entry slot 22 of the bezel 12 is sufficiently wide to accommodate the different exit paths along which tickets 32 are dispensed from the output slots 18 of the respective printers 16 a,b.

[0021] Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3, because the original ticket printer 16 a in FIG. 2 can be replaced without adjusting or replacing the bezel 12, the procedure for replacing the original ticket printer 16 a in FIG. 2 with a second, different printer 16 b in FIG. 3 (or vice versa, i.e., replacing the printer 16 b with the printer 16 a) is relatively easy. First, a service person opens the front door 14 of the machine housing to access the printer 16 a currently mounted within the housing at the mounting location 34 therein. Second, the service person dismounts the printer 16 a from the housing. Third, the service person mounts the second printer 16 b within the machine housing at the mounting location 34. Fourth, the service person closes the front door 14 of the machine housing so that the bezel 12 extends between the front door 14 and the output slot 18 of the second printer 16 b. The bezel 12 is not connected to the second printer 16 b.

[0022] Although the second ticket printer 16 b dispenses tickets 32 from its output slot 18 along an exit path different from that of the original printer 16 a, the entry slot 22 of the bezel 12 is sufficiently wide to accommodate and receive tickets 32 dispensed along the different exit paths of the different ticket printers 16 a,b. Therefore, the bezel 12 need not be adjusted or replaced during the procedure for replacing the printer 16 a with a different printer 16 b.

[0023] While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more particular embodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that many changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Each of these embodiments and obvious variations thereof is contemplated as falling within the spirit and scope of the claimed invention, which is set forth in the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A printer arrangement for a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a housing with a front door, the printer arrangement comprising: a ticket printer mounted within the housing and including an output slot; and a bezel extending between the front door of the housing and the output slot, the bezel being mounted to the front door but unconnected to the printer, the bezel being adapted to accept tickets dispensed from the output slot along different exit paths relative to the housing.
 2. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the bezel includes an entry slot adjacent to the output slot, the entry slot having a height of at least about 0.30 inches.
 3. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the front door of the housing includes a detachable plate, the bezel being mounted to the plate.
 4. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the bezel includes an exit slot and a peripheral flange encompassing the exit slot, the peripheral flange being attached to the front door.
 5. The arrangement of claim 4, wherein the exit slot is exposed by an opening in the front door, the peripheral flange being attached to the front door adjacent to the opening.
 6. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the bezel is elongated and extends upwardly from the output slot to the front door.
 7. The arrangement of claim 1, wherein the bezel forms a channel that tapers from a large entry slot adjacent to the output slot.
 8. A printer arrangement for a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a housing with a front door, the printer arrangement comprising: a selected ticket printer from a plurality of different ticket printers, the selected printer being mounted within the housing at a mounting location therein, the plurality of printers having respective output slots and adapted to be mounted within the housing at the mounting location, the plurality of printers dispensing tickets from their respective output slots along different exit paths relative to the housing when mounted within the housing at the mounting location; and a bezel extending between the front door of the housing and the output slot of the selected printer, the bezel being mounted to the front door but unconnected to the selected printer, the bezel being adapted to accept tickets dispensed from the output slots of the respective printers regardless of which printer is the selected printer.
 9. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the bezel includes an entry slot adjacent to the output slot of the selected printer, the entry slot having a height of at least about 0.30 inches.
 10. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the front door of the housing includes a detachable plate, the bezel being mounted to the plate.
 11. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the bezel includes an exit slot and a peripheral flange encompassing the exit slot, the peripheral flange being attached to the front door.
 12. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the exit slot is exposed by an opening in the front door, the peripheral flange being attached to the front door adjacent to the opening.
 13. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the bezel is elongated and extends upwardly from the output slot of the selected printer to the front door.
 14. The arrangement of claim 8, wherein the bezel forms a channel that tapers from a large entry slot adjacent to the output slot of the selected printer.
 15. A universal printer bezel for a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a housing and a selected ticket printer from a plurality of ticket printers, the selected printer being mounted within the housing, the plurality of printers having respective output slots for dispensing tickets along different exit paths, the printer bezel comprising an elongated hollow body extending between a front door of the housing and the output slot of the selected printer, the elongated body being mounted to the front door but unconnected to the selected printer, the elongated body being adapted to accept tickets dispensed from the output slots of the respective printers along the different exit paths regardless of which printer is the selected printer.
 16. The bezel of claim 15, wherein the elongated body has an entry slot and an exit end, the entry slot being adjacent to the output slot of the selected printer, the exit end being attached to the front door and including an exit slot.
 17. The bezel of claim 16, wherein the entry slot has a height of at least about 0.30 inches.
 18. The bezel of claim 16, wherein the exit end includes a peripheral flange encompassing the exit slot, the peripheral flange being attached to the front door.
 19. The bezel of claim 15, wherein the elongated body forms a channel that tapers from a large entry slot adjacent to the output slot of the selected printer.
 20. A method of replacing a first ticket printer in a gaming machine with a second ticket printer, the gaming machine including a housing and a bezel, the first printer being mounted within the housing and including a first output slot, the second printer including a second output slot, the bezel initially extending between a front door of the housing and the first output slot, the bezel being mounted to the front door but unconnected to the first printer, the method comprising: opening the front door to access the first printer; replacing the first printer with the second printer without adjusting or replacing the bezel; and closing the front door so that the bezel extends between the front door of the housing and the second output slot.
 21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first printer is initially mounted within the housing at a mounting location therein, and wherein the step of replacing the first printer includes dismounting the first printer from the housing and mounting the second printer within the housing at the mounting location.
 22. The method of claim 20, wherein the first and second printers dispense tickets from their respective first and second output slots along different exit paths relative to the housing when mounted within the housing, the bezel being adapted to accept tickets dispensed from the first and second output slots along the different exit paths.
 23. A method of replacing printers in a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a housing and a bezel mounted to a front door of the housing, a first printer being mounted within the housing and including a first output slot, the bezel extending between the front door and the first output slot, the bezel being unconnected to the first printer, the method comprising: receiving in the bezel tickets dispensed from the first output slot along a first exit path; opening the front door to access the first printer; replacing the first printer with a second printer, the second printer including a second output slot; closing the front door so that the bezel extends between the front door and the second output slot, the bezel being unconnected to the second printer; and receiving in the bezel tickets dispensed from the second output slot along a second exit path different from the first exit path.
 24. A method of replacing printers in a gaming machine, the gaming machine including a housing and a bezel mounted to a front door of the housing, the method comprising: mounting a first printer within the housing at a mounting location therein, the first printer including a first output slot, the bezel extending between the front door and the first output slot, the bezel being unconnected to the first printer; receiving in the bezel tickets dispensed from the first output slot along a first exit path; opening the front door to access the first printer; dismounting the first printer from the housing; mounting a second printer within the housing at the mounting location, the second printer including a second output slot; closing the front door so that the bezel extends between the front door and the second output slot, the bezel being unconnected to the second printer; and receiving in the bezel tickets dispensed from the second output slot along a second exit path different from the first exit path. 